Mawarire’s bid for freedom hit a brick wall after magistrate Ms Barbra Chimboza ruled that he should remain on remand pending trial. Mawarire is facing allegations of subverting a constitutionally-elected Government or alternatively inciting public violence and was further remanded to April 21.

In dismissing the application, Ms Chimboza said Mawarire had been on remand for less than two months, hence that period was not unreasonable.

Mawarire had also applied to have his bail conditions altered, but Ms Chimboza dismissed the application and advised him to make the application at the High Court, since he was granted bail there.

In his application through his lawyer Mr Harrison Nkomo, Mawarire accused the State of frustrating him by failing to give him a trial date.

Mr Nkomo said, “The last time we appeared in this court, the State told us that investigations would be complete by February 28, but it is surprising that 16 days down the line we have not been updated of the development of the matter.

“State is failing to explain why they are failing to provide the accused with a trial date.

“The State is just trying to frustrate these proceedings and prejudice the accused person.

“If the application for further remand refusal is not successful, may the court consider scraping the reporting conditions and giving Mawarire his passport back.

“He is abandoning his day-to-day duties as he is reporting twice a week to the police.

“Your Worship, it is our prayer that his passport should be returned to allow him to attend to his family.”

The prosecutor Mr Sebastian Mutizirwa opposed the application and told the court that investigations were complete, but the docket had been sent to the Prosecutor-General’s Office for perusal hence the delay in providing a trial date.

He argued that Mawarire’s application for refusal of further remand was misplaced because he had only been on remand for a month.

“I have taken a closer look at the State papers and there is nowhere indicating that accused would be given a trial date today,” he said.

“The accused person should also not expect this court to vary his bail conditions because it was granted by the High Court.

“They must approach the High Court and seek that kind of relief.”

It is the State’s case that between July 13 and December last year, Mawarire went to print and electronic media inciting Zimbabweans to revolt against the constitutionally-elected Government. He allegedly urged people not to go to work and they took hid and engaged in violent demonstrations.

It is further alleged that on September 15, 2016 Mawarire further called for Zimbabweans in America and all over the world to converge in New York and confront President Mugabe, who was attending the United Nations General Assembly.

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“Mawarire is facing allegations of subverting a constitutionally-elected gov’t or alternatively inciting public violence” Isn’t it strange that the state hasn’t said what Mawarire did or said to incite violence? Telling workers to stay home until they’re paid what they are owed by their employers, isn’t the same as subverting a constitutionally-elected gov’t. Trump has already already faced 2 days where some workers were encouraged not to show up for work to protest his policies on immigration and women’s rights. There was a protest by women called a day without a woman,that forced some school districts to close schools,because they didn’t have enough teachers. Then their was a day without an immigrant, when immigrants did the same,closed their businesses, and didn’t show up for work. The organizers of these protests were never charged with the bogus charges of subverting a constitutionally elected gov’t. In a democracy citizens have the right to protest against a constitutionally elected regime that’s failing to fulfil it’s campaign promises, or pay it’s workers in a timely manner. Telling people to stay home doesn’t encourage people to be violent,in any way or shape. These bogus charges will not stand in court. I remember a former Sunday mail editor being accused of being baba Jukwa,and being charged with the same crime of trying to subvert a constitutionally elected gov’t. He’s now a free man after the court dismissed the bogus charges.